Apparatus for treatment with liquids



Oct. 27, 1953 T. J. KEARNEY ET Ax.

APPARATUS FOR TREATMENT WITH LIQuTns 8 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Sept. 24.1948 Q if@ INVENToRs Z/wmasJEmI/zeyv BY mdmuw'my C/U fazM/LP ATTORNEYSOct. 27, 1953 1'. .1. KEARNEY ETAL 2,656,652'

APPARATUS FOR TREATMENT WITH LIQUIDS Filed Sept. 24, 1948 8 Sheets-Sheet2 [n YT ii 109 5509 :f 102 WITNESSES INVENToRs:

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BY @cI/w( fCcuLbQ ATTORNEY 5 Oct. 27, 1953 T. J. KEARNEY ET AL APPARATUSFOR TREATMENT WITH LIQUID-S 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 24, 1948 Oct.27, 1953 T. J. KEARNEY ET AL 2,556,652

APPARATUS FOR TREATMENT WITH LIQUIDS Filed Sept. 24, 1948 8 Sheets-Sheet4:

@www Q w g y@ 909990) i e0e00e0e0 I} 3i i O i =O OO 066W@ ,0e0e0e0ee 000 A WITNESSES l l INVENToRs'.-

A TTORNE YS OC- 27, 1953 T. J. KEARNEY ET AL 2,656,652

APPARATUS FOR TREATMENT WITH LIQUIDS Filed Sept. 24, 1948 8 Sheets-Sheet-5 FIGB.

i O M ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 27, 1953 T. J. KEARNEY ET AL 2,656,652

APPARATUS FOR TREATMENT WITH LIQUIDS Filed Sept. 24, 1948 8 Sheets-Sheet6 W I TNESSES INVENTORS:

Zizo JJ? @m4a1 BY ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 27, 1953 T. J. KEARNEY ETAL 2,656,652

APPARATUS FOR TREATMENT `WITH LIQuIns Filed Sept. 24, 1948 8'Sheets-Sheet 7 lIClZ- 65? az m INVENTORS:

W l TNESSES Oct. 27, 1953 T. J. KEARNEY ET AL APPARATUS FOR TREATMENTWITH LIQUIDS Filed Sept. 24, 1948 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 fla: 1a

INVENToRs.- Tamdearizeyu BY Flo yajrgyor, @514,11 my ATTORNEYS.

Patented Oct. 27, 1953 APPARATUS FOR TREATMENT WITH LIQUIDS Thomas J.Kearney and Floyd E. McGregor, De-

troit, Mich., assgnors to Detrex Corporation, Detroit, Mich., acorporation of Michigan Application September Z4, 1948, Serial No.51,016

18 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus and methods for cleaning, degreasingor otherwise treating articles of different kinds with volatile solventssuch as chlorinated solvents including carbon tetrachloride,trichlorethylene, and perchlorethylene. These solvents are liquid atordinary temperatures and pressures, and are non-fiammable at ordinarytemperatures. The articles or work to be cleaned may be treated eitherwith the liquid solvent, or with the solvent vapor, or with both. Inmany cases it is desirable to agitate the work in hot or boiling liquidsolvents.

More specifically our invention is concerned in part with treatingapparatus of the general type disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 2,107,369,granted to Clarence F. Dinley on February '8, 1938, for removing oiland/or grease, as well as dirt and chips, from finished machine partsand similar articles by treatment with solvents of the kind mentionedabove. In the patented apparatus groups of the articles to be cleanedare supported in carriers hung from endless chain conveyor whichtraverse a circuitous course over one or more wells containing liquidsolvent, and which is diverted downwardly for immersion of the carfriers without agitation of the articles in them:l

while in the liquid, said wells being enclosed in a housing, and saidconveyor extending to loading and unloading station located eXteriorlyof said housing.

The chief aim of our invention is to enable` treatment in such apparatusin much less time than possible heretofore without sacrifice in thethoroughness of the cleaning or degreasing. This desiratum is realizedin practice, as hereinafter s more fully set forth, through provision ofreticu-` late trays in which several articles may be placed at a timeand maintained in definite separation against relative movement andcontact with each other; reticulate tray holders pivotally mounted onthe carriers and having releasable means for retaining the trays;mechanism along the path of the conveyor for positively rotating theholders repeatedly during submersion in the solvent liquid in the wellsand also after emergence from the wells for removal of adhering solventfrom the ll U ing and unloading station. This objective is in turnrealized in practice, as also more fully disclosed hereinafter, throughprovision of simple and reliable means whereby, in the event that theholders are upside down or tilted after they emerge from the wells andbefore they pass to the exterior of the housing, they will beadditionally turned to the extent necessary.

Other objects and attendant advantages will appear from the followingdetailed description of the attached drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a view in side elevation, with portions broken out and othersin longitudinal. section, showing a treating apparatus convenientlyembodying the present invention, and suitable for the practice of ourimproved method of cleaning.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view in longitudinal section of the upper frontend portion of the apparatus, drawn to a larger scale.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view, in longitudinal section of the lower frontend portion of the apparatus, likewise drawn to a larger scale, andshowing part of a mechanism by which the tray holders are rotated.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in elevation looking as indicated by theangled arrows IV-IV in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a detail cross section taken as indicated by the angled arrowsV-V in Fig.4 2.

Figs. 6, '7, 8 and 9 are fragmentary views like Fig. 3 drawn to a stilllarger scale and showing sequential steps in the rotation of the trayholders.

Fig. 10 is a detail View in cross section taken as indicated by theangled arrows XX in Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary section taken as indicated by the angled arrowsXI--XI in Fig'. 3.

Figs. 12 and 13 are perspective views respectively of one of the trayholders and of one of the trays.

Fig. 14 is a cross sectional view taken as indicated by the angledarrows XIV-XIV in Fig. 10.

Fig. l5 is a view like Fig. 14 showing how a tray is inserted into itsholder.

Figs. 16, 17, 18 and 19 are perspective views of various parts of themechanism by which the tray holders are rotated.

As herein illustrated, our improved treating apparatus has a closedhousing 20 with upper and lower sections 2| and 22. The walls of thehousing are formed from sheet metal and are supported by a skeletonframework of structural steel which is partly shown and generallydesignated 23 in Figs. 2 and 3. Within the housing 20 is a compartment24 which, in this instance,

is subdivided by a central transverse partition 25 into two solventwells 24a and 2th respectively containing cleaning solvent and cleanrinsing solvent. Also within the housing beyond the right hand end wall25 of the compartment 2d is a clear space 26. As shown in Fig. l. theupper section 2| of the housing 25 overhangs the lower section 22 at theleft hand or loading and unloading end of the apparatus and is traversedby a chain conveyor comprising two laterallyspaced, endless sprocketchains 30. is-shown, the chains SQ trace a circuitous course, in thedirection of the arrows in Fig. l. saidcourse being dened by thesprocket wheelsdesignated 5043. The sprocket wheels 34, 31 and di! lareresnec- ,l

tively disposed directly over the solvent wells 2da, 24h and the clearspace 26. rThe conveyor emerges through an opening 23 in the bottom ofthe overhanging portion of the upper housing section 2l at the loadingand unloading .end `of the apparatus. The shaft 45a of the sprocketwheel e extends to the exterior of the housing, and, at its Vouter end,has a sprocket 55 which is chain connected to a speed reducing unit 5idriven by an electric motor indicated at 52.

Attached to the chain conveyor at spaced points are work carriers 53each rcomprising a pair of arms 54 and .55 which are pivotally suspendedfrom a rod 55 `extending transversely between the sprocket chains Se.Journalled in bearings 51 at the lower ends of each pair of the arms 54,55 are the trunnions 58 and 59 of a Yholder @il for reception of a trayBl into which the articles to be cleaned are placed. As best shown inFig. 12, each tray holder 65 is .formed from structural metal parts withhorizontally arranged oblong frames 62 and 63 whichat opposite ends, arebolted to connecting plates .54 and 55. The frames 62 and .63 areequally spaced and centered relative to the trunnions 58 and `5i! whichextend laterally from the end plates til and G5, the latter of the two.end plates having .an upward arm extension 55a with a roller .61 at thetop. The frame 62 is spanned .by a diaphragm til of metallic screening,and the side members or longitudinals of the frame 53 are spanned `atintervals by round section cross bars 59. As will be presently seen, theframe 52 serves as a cover for the tray 5|, and the frame 53 serves as asupporting shelf with said tray resting directly upon the cross bars 55as shown in Fig. 14. For retainment of the tray Si, there is provided alatch element 1! in the form of a yoke having side arms 11a pivoted at12 to the rear longitudinal of the frame 53 and connected at theirswinging ends by a sloped tie bar 1lb which is flush with terminal bevelcam retroversions 'Hc on said arms. Compression springs .13. surroundingupstanding bolts on Z lugs 16 welded to the front longitudinal of frame53, tend to yieldingly urge the latch member 1l upward as far aspermitted by stop heads 15a Yat the tops of said bolts. The tray El, seeFig. 13, ,is vlikewise made up from structural metal parts, with itstop, sides and ends integrally fashioned from reticulate material 11 andreinforced perimetrically and also at its'corners by a frame 18.Centrally of its opposite longitudinals the tray 6l is provided withgrasp handles 19. When its use is intended for small articles ofdiierent kinds which it is desired. to keep separated, the tray 6! maybe subdivided by lengthwise and crosswise partitions 8D and 8l asshown.In introducing the tray 6 l, it is brought up, witheitherzof its longsides foremost, and thrust into the interval 4 between the frames 62 and53 of the holder 6B. In this operation, bevel cam lugs 82 on the frontlongitudinal of the frame 63 and the bevel cam bar 1lb of the latchmember 1l serve as guides, said latch member yielding to momentarydownward ,displacement as shown. in Fig. 15 and as permitted .by thesprings 13, until the tray is thrust home in the holder, when saidelement will snap upward into retaining position as in Fig. 14. It willnow be apparent that, with the tray v6l in place, the reticulate web ofthe upper l lframe of the holder acts as a cover to keep the work inseparate compartments and to prevent the articles placed in the trayfrom falling out .as the holder is turned on its trunnions in a mannerpresently explained. The tray holder and tray per se, constitute thesubject matter of aseparate patent application, Serial No. 51,017,concurrently led herewith by Thomas J. Kearney, now Patent No.2,575,218, dated November 1 3, 19.5.1.

VlVIounted on the trunnion 58 outwardly of the corresponding suspensionarm 5S: (Figs. 5 and 10) isa pair of spaced rollers 83 and 54 which Varefree to rotate independently; and mounted on the other trunnion 59beyond the suspension arm 55, are a fixed toothed pinion and a freelyrotative roller 86.

The holders 56 are charged with the trays 5| as the conveyor movesdownward from the sprockets 49 at the left hand end or the apparatus inFig. 1. During this downward travel, the holders tl) are held uprightand prevented from rotating through engagement of the rollers 61 on theupward arms 55a between a pair of fixed vertically arranged track railsS1 and 5S at the near side of the apparatus in Fig. 2 and throughconcurrent engagement ofthe 'rollers 83 and 85.3 between other parallelvertical guides 89, 9E and Sl, 92 respectively at opposite sides of theapparatus.

After rounding the sprockets 3l, the conveyor chains move upward to thesprockets 32, then horizontally for a short distance to the sprockets 33, Aand then downwardly again to the sprockets 3 4 incident to therounding of which the tray holders are immersed in the cleaning liquidwithin the solvent well 24a.

For the purpose of rotating the tray holders Si) while submerged in thesolvent well 24a as the carriers 55 round the sprockets 34, we haveprovided the mechanism comprehensively designated in Figs. 1, 3, 4 and6-11, part ci this mechanism being located at one side of the appara-.tus and part at the other side. The portion of this mechanism at thefar side of the apparatus, see Figs. 1 and 10, includes a segmentaltrack which is disposed within the solvent well 24a beneath the sprocket3s and formed by spaced parallel rail sections 95 and 91 one above theother, the iront end of the lower rail 91 extending somewhat beyond theiront endof the upper rail 95 and bothr being partly inclined upwardlyin the direction of rotation of said sprocket wheel'and partly curved inconcentric relation thereto. Both rails 95 and 91 are rigidly supportedby a sloping strut 98 of the framework 23 of the apparatus. As shown,the rail 55 is fashioned from angle section bar material arranged forcontact of its lateral ange from beneath by the rollers 83 on the trayholders 65. The rail 91 is formed from square section bar stock and isadapted to be contacted from above by the rollers 84 of the carrier 53.The portion of the mechanism at the near side of the apparatus-see Figs.

3, 5-11, comprises fixed segmental track rails 99 and |02 which areshaped and disposed like the rails 06 and 91 at the far side andsimilarly supported by a sloped strut IOI of the framework 23. The rail03 is angular in cross section and arranged for contact of the undersideof its lateral flange by the rollers 06 on the tray holders 60, but thesegment |02 is formed as a rack with a series of pins |03 extendingcrosswise between laterally-spaced side strips II2a and adapted to beengaged from above by the pinions 85 on the tray holders. Secured to thestrut |0| at the entrant end of the track so as to be engaged from aboveby the rollers 86 on the tray holders 60, is a relatively short trackpiece |04 of rectangular section on which the rollers 85 ride until thepinions 85 reach the pin rack.

In order to control the carriers 53 as they approach the two tracks, wehave further provided levers |05, one at each side of the apparatus.

Except for being left and right hand, these levers |05 are identical. Asbest shown in Fig. 16, each lever |05 is constructed from structuralmetal parts with an aperture I 06 for passage of the shank of a headedfulcrum stud |01, the shank of which latter extends through hole |08 ofbuilt up: bracket |00 (Figure 18) aflixed to one side edge of the strut|0I (Fig. 3). Welded to the strut |0| adjacent the bracket |09 is aperpendicularly arranged angle piece H0, see Fig. 19, whereof one iiangeH011. is abutted by the longitudinal angle section component of thelever |05 and is engaged from the opposite side by an angle lug I05abolted to the front side of said lever. By virtue of this construction,the lever |05 is constrained to up and down movement in a single plane.As a further aid to this end, a shouldered bolt I I2 has its shankfastened through an aperture I I3 by a nut and lock washer in anupstanding lug |05b` on the lever |05 and extending through an arcuateslot I I0 inthe flange I |051 of the angle piece I I0 concentric inrelation to the fulcrum bolt |01. From Fig. 19 it will be noted that theilange H0a of angle piece H0 is curved outwardly at the top. as at H017,and, from Fig. 16, that the vertical frange of the longitudinalcomponent of the lever |05 is extended beyond the horizontal flange andcurved outwardly as at |050. A coil spring H5 in compression betweencups |05d and H00 respectively at the bottom of the lever |05 and thebottom of the angle piece H0, yieldingly urges said lever upward as faras permitted by an opposing helical spring I I6 in tension between iixedanchorages |058 and H1 respectively on the curved end portion of saidlever and on the strut IOI. rI'he springs H5 and I I6 are bothadjustable as will be readily seen from Fig. 6, and oppose each other tonormally maintain the lever |05 yieldinglyin a neutral positionlongitudinally of the track. Adjacent the free end of the lever |05 is atransverse axis bearing I05f for the laterally projecting fulcrum pin II8a of a control element H8 which is separately illustrated in Fig. 17.As shown, this control element H8 is in the form of a spoon having atits front end a scoop I8b with a lateral flare |I8c, and a relativelylong flat .rearward shank Hd which carries a counterweight H9. Normallythe control element H8 occupies the position in which it is shown inFig. 3 with its shank I IBd parallel to the straight portion of thetrack rail 99, this position being determined by engagement of the anglelug` H86, to which the counterweight H9 is directly secured, with thelateral ange 05x of lever |05, see Fig. 8. rEhe swing of the controlelement H8 about its fulcrum in counterclockwise direction is limited byengagement of a stud projection H'f with a stop |20 on the lateralflange of the angle piece I I0 as shown in Fig. 6. The supporting lever|05 and associated parts for the control element at the far side of themachine in Fig. l, it is to be understood, are exactly like those justdescribed in detail but reversed in order.

Upon descent of the carrier 53 to the mechanism 95 as in Fig. 3, therollers 83 and 86 on the trunnions of the tray holder 60 simultaneouslyenter the scoops of the two control elements I I8, causing the latter tobe swung counterclockwise to upright position as shown in Fig. 6. Thisoccurs as the conveyor chains start rounding the sprockets 34, withconsequent imposition of a. slight drag on the carrier whereby thelatter is temporarily restrained and thus prevented from swinging. Entryof the rollers 83 and S6 into the scoops H181) is assured by the countersloped side flares H90 of the control elements H0. As the movement ofthe conveyor chains continues, with attendant decrease inthe angularityof the carrier arms 54 and 55, the rollers 83 and 85 move gentlydownwardly, with a slight reverse travel as considered with respect tothe final direction of movement of the carrier, on the inclined interiorsurfaces of the scoops of the elements H0 to a point beyond the ends ofsaid scoops. The roller 84 eventually engages the track rail 01, and theroller 86 engages the short rail piece |04 :as shown in Fig. 7. Therollers 84 and 80 are thus deposited on the track rails without freeswinging of the carriers. Upon being released, as just explained, thecontrol elements HI8 are automatically returned to normal position bythe action of their counterweights H9. Dropping of the elements I I8 isassured through contact of the transverse pin 50 of the conveyor onwhich the carrier 53 is hung, with the shank ends Hd of said elements asalso shown in Fig. '7. By continued drag of the carrier in the furtheradvance of the conveyor, the rollers 83 and 86 enter beneath the scoopsof `the control elements H8 which are now held down by the action ofsprings I I6 upon the levers |05, the roller 86 riding on the shorttrack |04 until the pinion 85 encounters the rst of the cross pins |03of the gear rack |02, said first pin being depressed somewhat below theplane of the others as shown in Fig. 9, to facilitate theinterengagement. As the pinion 05 rolls onto the second pin of the gearrack, it rises slightly while still held down by the control element II0 as in Fig. 8 which is allowed to rise with it under the yieldingaction of the spring I I0 upon, lever |05. In its further travel, thepinion is held to the pin rack as the roller 05 first passes beneath thelateral nange |05fr of lever |05 and finally beneath the lateral flangeof the rail 99, with resultant positive and uniform turning of the trayholder 60 about its trunnion axis while immersed in the solvent well24a', the conveyor chains complete the rounding of the sprockets 34'.

From the sprockets 30, the conveyor chains travel up to the sprockets 35and across to the sprockets 36. whereby the carrier 53 is advanced overthe partition 25 of the compartment 2t, and then down to the sprocketwheels 31. In rounding the sprockets 3l, the tray holder 00 is irnmersedin the solvent well 24h and at the same time it is turned on itstrunnion axis several times by mechanism |2| similar to the mechanism95, with the result that the work articles in the tray are subjected tothe rinsing action of the relatively clean solvent in said well.

:In their further travel, the conveyor chains `il) more upward to theVsprockets 3.8 and then across tc ,the sprockets 39 whereby the Vcarrier3 is lifted over the rear end Wall of the trough 24. From this point,the conveyor chains again move downward to undertravel the sprockets 4Gincident to whichthe tray holder Ilili of the carrier 53 is once moreturned several times in the clear space 2.6 whereby most of the liquidclean- Lne solvent adhering to the tray holder 5.0 and the `articles inthe tray 61| is thrown off. Further drainage of the liquid takes placeas the conveyor chains lcomplete the circuit upward Within the supportedby the framework of the apparatus,

and which has cam risers |25@ and |261) respectively Vat opposite ends.In the event that, by reason of unbalanced distribution of the articleswithin them, the tray holders te are not upright as they approach thecam plate |26, they will be further turned about their trunnion axes,rst by action of the slope |2611 of said plate upon the rollers S?, andsomewhaty later by similar action upon said rollers by the slope 12th asthe conveyor chains round the sprockets 4,9, and

pass downward of the front .end of the housing. As shown, the cam plate|26 extends to the vertical guide rails 23'! and 28 and is there roundedas at IZf/c to direct the rollers S1 into the interval between saidrails. It is also to be observed that one of the iianges of each of thevertical angle section guide rails 92 is extended upwardly and bentrearwardly for the formation of a cam slope at 92a adjacent the roundedend |26c of cam plate |26 to direct the rollers B3, 86 on the traycarriers into the guide interval between said rail .and the companionangle section rail 9|. Thus, as `the carriers 43 travel downward at thefront end of the apparatus for unloading, they will not only be uprightbut will be prevented from turnu ing while `being unloaded andrecharged.

Having Ythus described our invention, we claim:

1. In apparatus for treatment with liquids, a well containing treatingliquid; a conveyor mov able over the well; a carrier with an armpivotally suspended from the conveyor, and with a holder for articles tobe treated rotatively supported by the arm; an under-traveled wheel bywhich the conveyor is diverted downwardly into the well for immersion ofthe holder in the liquid; a stationary segmental track with fixedlyspaced parallel upper and lower rails beneath the wheel and inclinedupwardly in the direction of wheel rotation, the lower rail extendingbeyond the upper rail at the entrant end of the track; a roller on thepivot axis of the holder; and control means including a restrainingelement fulcrumed on a transverse axis above the track and adapted to beactuated by the roller as the carrier is lowered into the trough to easeapproach of the roller to the extended portion of the lower track railand lfor guiding the roller beneath the upper track rail; and meanswhereby the holder is rotated as :it continues its travelalong the trackwhile submcrgedfinthelquio,

2.. Treating apparatus .according to claim 1, wherein the holderisAreticulate .for .access `of the liquid to 'the articles during theperiod .of sub.- mergence.

3. Treating apparatus according to claim l, wherein kthe pivoted elementof the control means is of aspoon-like conguration with a scoop frontend and a rearwardly extending counterweighted shank, said element beingmedially ,fulcrumed and normally stopped in an angular position,whereby, upon ,initial engagement of its scoop by the roller, it isswung upright, and upon momentary recession of the roller within thescoop onto the lower track rail incident to .de-

...crease inthe ansularty .of .the .carriera-rm as the movement of theconveyor continues, itis autolmatically returned to vits normal positionunder gravitational inuence, so that in advancing fur'- therg the rolleris obliged .to under-travel the scoop and be thereby directed beneaththe up- Ber track rail.

Afl, Treating apparatus ,according to claim l,

Vwherein the control means further includes a supporting memberyieldingly sustained from the track, and wherein the pivoted element isof spoon-likevconguration with a scoop at its front end and a rearwardlyextending counterweighted shank, said element being medially fulcrurnedon the supporting member and normally stopped in an angular position,whereby,

.upon engagement of the scoop by the roller, it is swung upright, andupon momentary recession of the roller within the s coop onto the lowertrack rail lincident to decrease in the angularity .of the carrier armas the movement .of the conveyor continues, it is automatically returnedto normal position under gravitational influence, so that in advancingfurther, .the roller is obliged to undertravel the scoop and .be thereby.directed beneath the upper track rail- 5, Treating ,apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein the control means further includes a r leverarranged lengthwise of .the track, opposing springs normally maintainingthe lever yielding- 'ly in a normal position, and wherein the pivotedelement is of spoon-like configuration with ,a scoop vat its front endand with a rearwardly eX'- Vtending counter-weighted shank, said elementbeing medially fulcrumed on the lever and stopped in substantiallyhorizontal position, whereby upon engagement of its scoop by the rolleron the holder, it is vswung upright, and

.upon momentary vrecession of the roller within the scoop Onto theextended portion of the lower track rail incident to decrease in theangularity of the carrier arm as the movement of the conv eyorcontinues, kit is automatically returned to normal position undergravitational inuence, so that in advancing further, the roller isobliged to under-travel the scoop and be thereby directed beneath theupper track rail.

6. Treating apparatus according to claim l, wherein the Aholder rotatingmeans ,comprises a toothedpinion fast on the fulcrum axis of the holder,and a rack along the track beyond the control means to cooperate withthe pinion.

7. Treating apparatus according to claim l, wherein the well is enclosedin a housing with provision of a clear space beyond it; wherein anotherunder-traveled guide wheel diverts the conveyor downward ,in said clearspace; wherein another fixed segmental track similar to the rstmentioned is disposed adjacent the second cuide wheel; and wherein acontrol means anda rotat- .ing means asso...ated wildiA the lattertracl; oper- 9 ate to govern the carrier and turn the holder tofacilitate drainage of adhering or entrained cleaning liquid from saidholder and from the articles within it.

8. Treating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the well is enclosedin a housing; wherein a portion of the conveyor circuit is exterior tothe housing for loading and unloading of the carrier; wherein the holderhas a frontal opening for insertion of a tray for the articles; andfurther including means for additionally rotating the tray holder to theextent required to bring it upright with its front end accessible forremoval of the tray at the loading and unloading station if it shouldnot be so after withdrawal from the well and before emerging from thehousing.

9. In apparatus for treatment with liquids, a 'well containing cleaningliquid; a conveyor movable over the well and comprising a pair oflaterally spaced conveyor chains; an attached carrier comprising a pairof arms respectively pivotally suspended from the conveyor chains, and aholder for articles to be cleaned having trunnions at opposite endsengaged in bearings at the lower ends of the arms; coaxial undertraveledguide wheels by which the belts are diverted downwardly within the wellfor immersion of the holder in the liquid; stationary segmental trackswith xedly spaced parallel e up-per and lower rails, respectivelybeneath the wheels and inclined upwardly in the direction of wheelrotation, the lower rails extending beyond the lower rails; at theentrant end of the track rollers on the trunnions ci the holder; andcontrol means including elements fulcrumed on transverse axes above thetrack and adapted to be acted upon by the rollers as the carrier islowered into the trough to ease the approach ci the rollers to theextended portions of the lower track rails and for guiding them beneaththe upper rails; and means whereby the holder is rotated as it continuesits travel along the track rails while submerged in the liquid.

10. Treating apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the holder isreticulate for access of the liquid to the articles during the period ofsubmergence.

11. Treating apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the pivotedelements of the control means are of spoon-like configuration withscoops at their front ends and with rearwardly extending counterweightedshanks pivotally supported and stopped in an angular position, wherebyupon initial engagement of their scoops by the rollers, they are swungupright, and upon momentary recession of the rollers within the scoopsonto the lower track rails incident to decrease in the angularity of thecarrier arms as the movement of the conveyor continues, they areautomatically returned to normal position under gravitational influence,so that in advancing further, the rollers are obliged to undertravel thescoops and be thereby directed beneath the upper track rails.

12. Treating apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the control meansfurther includes supporting members yieldingly sustained respectivelyfrom the tracks, wherein the pivoted elements are of spoon-likeconguration with scoops at their front ends and with rearwardlyextending counterweighted Shanks, said elements being medially fulcrumedrespectively on the supporting members and normally stopped in anangular position, whereby, upon engagement 10 of the scoops by therollers, they are swung upright, and upon momentary recession of therollers within the scoops onto the lower track rails incident todecrease in the angularity oi' the carrier arms as the movement or" theconveyor continues, they are automatically returned to normal positionunder gravitational influence,

so that in advancing further, the rollers are obliged to under-travelthe scoops and be thereby directed beneath the upper rails of therespective tracks.

13. Treating apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the control meansfurther includes levers respectively arranged lengthwise of the tracks,opposing springs for maintaining the levers yieldingly in normalposition, wherein the pivoted elements are of spoon-like configurationwith scoops at their front ends and with rearwardly extendingcounter-weighted szhanks, said elements being medialiy fulcrumed on thelevers and normally stopped in an inclined position, whereby, uponengagement of their scoops by the rollers on the holder, they are swungupright, and upon momentary recession of the rollers within the scoopsonto the extended front ends of the lower rails of the respective tracksincident to decrease in the angularity of the carrier arms as themovement of the conveyor continues, they are automatically returned tonormal position under gravitational infiuence, so that in advancingfurther, the rollers are obliged to undertravel the scoops and bethereby directed loe-v neath the upper rails of the respective tracks.

14. Treating apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the holder rotatingmeans comprises a toothed pinion fast on one of the trunnions oi' theholder; and a rack along one of the tracks beyond the control means tocooperate with the pinion.

l5. In apparatus for treatment with liquids, a well containing treatingliquid; an endless conveyor having attached thereto, with capacity forrotation about a horizontal axis, a carrier cornprising a holder with afrontal opening for insertion or" a supporting tray for articles to betreated, with releasable means for retaining the tray; means defining acircuitous course i-or the conveyor with a portion thereof extending toa loading and unloading station beyond the well, and with a portionthereof diverted downwardly within the well for immersion of the trayholder in the liquid; means within the welll along the path of theconveyor for rotating the tray holder about its axis during submergencein the liquid; a crank arm with a roller thereon affixed to the pivotaxis of the tray holder; and a horizontally arranged cam element furtheralong the path of the conveyor overtravelled by the latter and havingoppositely inclined ends for cooperation with the roller arm toadditionally turn the tray holder and bring it upright with its frontalopening accessi-ble for removal of the tray in the event that it has notbeen so positioned before reaching the loading and unloading station.

16. Treating apparatus according to claim l5, further including a pairof vertically-arranged track rails at the loading and unloading stationbetween which the roller on the crank arm is guided after it leaves thecam element to keep the holder upright during loading and unloading.

1'7. Treating apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the course of theconveyor is vertical at the loading and unloading station, furtherincluding a roller free on the pivot axis of the tray holder; and twopairs of vertically-arranged track rails at the loading and unloadingstation be- .tweenone pair-.fof *which ,the-.roller onthe crank -armis`guidediafter -itleaves .the .cam element, 'and lbetween `which thesecond .mentioned .is

concurrently `guided `to .keep `the .holder .upright duringloading andunloading.

A18. In apparatus for `treatment withlliquids, a welrcontaining treatingliquid; Yan endless .con- -veyor having .attached thereto withca'paeityfor .rotation about a. horizontal .axis,. a vcarrier .com-

prising a holder with a'f'rontal openingifor insertion.y ofra trayforeontainingarticles .to be treated and with releasable. latchmeans'for vretaining'the trayymeans fordeining .a circuitouscourse for.the conveyor Witha portion thereof extending v.toa'loadingand-unloading station beyond the trough-and with a .portionthereoffdiverted down- .unloading station; V'the course .of .thelconveyor being Verticalat the `loatlinga'nd unloadingstation; a crankarm with aroller v'thereon aixedto'the pivot-axis o'fthetrayhlder;another roller freely rotative 4on the-.pivot axiso'fthe .trayholderythe righting means .comprising a horizontally arranged cam elementwhichlis .overtravled bythe conveyor an'dlhaving oppositely inclinedendsto 'cooperate with'the rller .onthe lcrankfarmof the carrier; ,andfurther .finluding 'two ,pairs v`df Lverltica'lly ,arranged 'trackArails .of the loading "and unloading statonbetween one pairoflwhic'zhtlle roller on the .crankarm is guided after it lleavestheaioresaid 'cani element, andzbetweenthe other pair of which theo'therroller `is concurrently .guidedto keep theLhol'der 'upright duringVloading and unloading. Y

THOMAS J. KEARLNEY.

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